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MOOSE LAKE AREA HISORICAL SOCIETY SPRING NEWSLETTER 2010

Exciting News
The 1915 Model T Ford that was donated to us by Clayton Hartman has found its permanent home. After much measuring, thinking and planning, on April 22, 2010, Jim & Chuck Eckman, Corky Mackey, Dean Paulson and Curt Frohrip moved it into the Annex and it looks wonderful. Many, many thanks to Mr. Hartman and to the men who worked so hard to get it into the building; it looks great!!

Volunteers needed!
Because we plan to have both buildings open this summer we will need additional people to work. We are open a total of 40 hours a week and the current plan is to increase each of the 3 staff by one day a week. This leaves 22 hours that will need to be covered by volunteers. We hope to have enough people so you would only work 3-hour shifts a couple days a month. If you are able to help out, please call the Depot at 485-4234 or Natalie at 485-4679. We will have an orientation for you prior to opening.

Minnesota Archaeology Week is May 8-16
MLAHS is sponsoring a flint-knapping demonstration by the president of the Minnesota Archaeological Society Rod Johnson. The event titled “The Amazing Rock-the How-to of Stone Tools” will be held in the Annex on Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 10am-4pm. A brief presentation on archaeology will also be given around 1pm. This is FREE and open to the public. A complete schedule of events is available at the Depot.

Opening Day and Veterans Remembered
We will be opening for the season Saturday, May 29 at 10am with displays in both buildings. Veterans Remembered coffee and cookies will be held after the Memorial Day program at the school. Please come and join us for this special weekend.

Perennial Plant and Garden Art Sale
The Perennial Plant and Garden Art Sale is Saturday, June 5, 2010 from 9am to 1pm. If you have plants that need dividing or moved or any kind of garden art, we would love to add them to our sale. If you have space in your garden that needs to be filled in, please come and see what we have for sale.

14th Annual Depot Fest
Depot Fest will be held Saturday, August 7. Registrations for crafters and vendors are now available. Please call to reserve a site. Are you spring-cleaning or downsizing? If you have items that you would like to donate to our Flea Market; they would be welcome. Please no clothes or electronics. Call Maryls Schmidt at 372-4282 or the Depot at 485-4234 for more information. Pick up of donations may be possible if needed.

Save the Date
The Fall Dinner will be held Sunday, September 19 at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Moose Lake. There will be a catered dinner, silent auction, and entertainment. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

Archaeology Exhibit Moves
The archaeology exhibit that has been in the freight room focusing on arrowheads, stone hammers, and copper artifacts has been given a makeover and moved to the Annex. It includes information about the study of Minnesota history and archaeology. Steven Blondo, professional archaeologist, has been studying the collection and is interested in knowing more about local artifact collections.

Yearbooks wanted
Do you still have your old yearbook? Are you willing to part with it? We are hoping to have a complete set of yearbooks from Barnum, Moose Lake, and Willow River. If you no longer want yours, please don’t throw them away, we would love to have them. It is okay if there is writing in them as most of them probably have it. Contact the Depot at 485-4234 if you want to donate them. Thank you in advance.

Admission
Last fall, the Board decided to start charging admission of $2 per person and $5 for a family when we open this spring. We felt with the number of visitors (almost 2,000) we had last summer that we were missing out on a source of income. We will evaluate this mid-summer and decide whether it is a good idea to continue. Members of the Moose Lake Area Historic Society will not have to pay and also get a 10% discount in the Gift Chop.

Donations received
Antique roll-top desk from Dan & Sue Benzie
Recitation bench (from the Windemere country school) from Steve Wesley
Pew and communion cup from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
Pulpit from the original McCabe Church from the Methodist Church
Monetary donations
Tom & Mary Helfman
Pat Martinson
Stan & Pat Misukanis
Greg & Rosalyn Evenson
Automba Township
Moose Lake Township
City of Denham
Kalevala Township
Kettle River Snowmobile Club
Dean Paulson
Louise & Connie Halverson
Town of Barnum

Grants Update
Early this spring, MLAHS was awarded a $1,000 Operation Round-up Grant from Lake Country Power. The grant will be used to update the aging Fires of 1918 Exhibit. MLAHS received a grant from Lake State Federal Credit Union to purchase a new copier/printer.
In March MLAHS was awarded a Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) Legacy Grant. The $7,000 will fund the completion of a historic context and inventory of properties associated with the 1918 Fires. Steven Blondo will be completing the survey and is looking for information on properties that are associated with the 1918 Fires.

Memberships
Our goal for 2010 is to have 210 members and we are at 204 now. We have had an increase from 3 benefactors to 4 and of 12 sponsors to 18. If you know of someone who may be interested in becoming a member, please refer them to someone at the Depot or let a board member know about them.

Executive Director’s Report
It has been a busy winter, various committees have met to complete inventories, decide what should be on display, help to write grant proposals, etc. Things are getting done and I hope by opening weekend all will be ready. All of the exhibits regarding the 1918 Fires have been moved to the Annex. This exhibit is an ongoing project as we go through files, find other items and rearrange things to tell the story in a meaningful way. Since the 1915 Model T Ford was the type of car that people used to flee the fire, we felt it was a wonderful addition to our collection. There are some car related items that will also be on display. Some new displays include an expanded display for Memorial Day including uniforms from local people from different branches of the Armed Forces and other memorabilia that we have found in our collection. One display shows the Co-op Label; we have received numerous items of interest with the Co-op Label which helps to make a wonderful exhibit. The display that will be in the former fire room in the Depot is about local churches. It will include the pulpit from the McCabe Church, a baptismal font and cross from Blomskog, a pew from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, a communion set from the State Hospital, and other artifacts from a variety of churches. There will also be pictures of some of the old churches in the area. There is an exhibit of Nancy Ann dolls, which is very interesting.
Some of our permanent displays will be updated. Please take time to come to visit us this summer. There is something of interest for everyone and we would love to see you.

2010 Board Members

Pat Martinson-President 485-8398 Judy Blomquist 485-4470
Natalie Frohrip-Executive Director 485-4679 Dorette Christensen 485-8225
Dean Paulson-President Elect 485-0298 Karen Dahlmeier 485-4904
Marge Renn-Secretary 485-4945 Curt Frohrip 485-4679
Joe Mogan-Treasurer 485-8509 Lou Hall 485-4922
Joanne Jungers 485-4946
Marge Kuhlman 485-4304
June Mackey 485-8088

 

 

 

New Building, the “Depot Annex”,  We’re Moving In!!

It all began back in 2004 when the Society starting building the Depot Annex, it was completely enclosed and then building supply costs became very high and we ran out of money.  Last spring we received permission from the building inspector to finish half of the building that will have the museum, work room and office and get a partial occupancy permit.  Thanks to volunteers and the endless volunteer hours of board members and others, it’s wonderful sight to behold, not only inside, but outside as well.    We are hoping to be open for some regular hours in the museum sometime this winter. 

When complete this building will be a great asset to the community. It will have a large community room that can seat at least 200 people and could be used for wedding receptions, anniversaries and other parties as well as for seminars, training sessions and other events.  There is adequate parking for a large event and is easily accessible on Highway 73.

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR DONATION FOR SHEET ROCK

 

Lake Superior Magazine

Watch for the October-November issue of the Lake Superior magazine (page 87 in the travel section).  It should be in the news stands the middle of September.  We were interviewed in August regarding our museum, especially the Fires of 1918 information.  The travel editor spent quite a bit of time here and he was very interested and impressed with our facility.  We also gave him a tour of the Depot Annex to show what we are planning in the future. 

 

Volunteers needed

We are hoping to have some regular hours in the Depot Annex this winter.  While the schedule has not been set yet, we are thinking about being open at least Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm.  At this point, we are hoping to staff with volunteers, partly to save money but also because two of our employees will be going south for the winter.

If we get enough people to help, you would probably only have to work a few hours a month.  Please let us know if you could help.  It’s a good way to meet new and interesting people and help the Society also.

 

New Position

With the addition of the new Depot Annex and growth of membership, the job of being president has become overwhelming.  There is just too much of the day to day things that have to be done and we are finding we need to have a regular contact person who can be responsible for decisions.  We are proposing adding a position called Executive Director. This person would be the main contact person for the museum/gift shop as well as for the use of the new building. At this time, this is going to be a volunteer position and Natalie Frohrip has agreed to assume these duties in January when the new president begins her term.  Natalie would report directly to the board and the president, and for 2010 will remain a board member as Past President as well as the new position.  When we are able to get the entire Depot Annex building completed it will be necessary to hire someone to do this job.  We will be working on a position description in the next month and plan to have it ready for a vote by the quarterly meeting in October.  By creating this position, we hope to make the job of president much easier and we also hope that more people would consider taking that role.  If you have any input regarding this issue, please contact a board member before October 20th.  Current Board members are: Natalie Frohrip, Ross Anderson, Pat Martinson, Judy Blomquist, Gen Peters, Lou Hall, Dorothy Collette, Mark Lund, Dean Paulson, June Mackey, Joe Mogen and Karen Dahlmeier. Marge Renn is appointed as secretary.

 

Presidents’ Report

We have had a very busy summer at the Depot. We have had over 2000 visitors sign the guest book. We have received many positive comments regarding our museum.  Many new things have been added to the gift shop and sales have been good.  Next year we are planning on having a small admission charge, many people are surprised there is not one already and the income will be very welcome.  This admission charge will include touring both of the buildings and there will be a family rate. Definite decisions regarding this issue have not been made yet.

Progression on the Depot Annex has been remarkable.  There are a few things that still need to be completed; some door and floor trim, painting and staining, carpet in the main entry way and plumbing in the workroom. These items should be completed soon. The phone line, internet and security system are installed. We now have a beautiful sidewalk connecting the boardwalk to the main entrance of the new building. Thanks to Kim Hartman for his work on this project. When all is completed, the fire marshal will do an inspection and we will receive a partial occupancy permit.  The city of Moose Lake is applying for some stimulus money to expand their internet and computer capabilities.  If they receive this money, there is a possibility that the kitchen from the community room and Senior Dining will move to the Depot Annex. We will have to get the bathrooms and air exchange/air conditioning completed also at that time.

All of the items that were stored in city hall have been moved and also items from the office in the old Depot. We have everything stored in the new building but still need to do a complete inventory of the items.  The office and workroom are almost completed and files are gradually getting in their proper order. It will probably take most of the winter to get everything put on the computer but much progress has been made.

October is going to be a very busy month. The fire commemoration will be held on October 10 from starting at 1pm at the   Depot.  We hope to have at least a few of the fire survivors present for pictures which will be taken at 2:30 pm. We will also be going to the nursing home to take pictures of those who reside there.  We  will be available to give tours of the Depot Annex if interested.  Coffee and goodies will be served throughout the afternoon.

 

 And then, on October 25 is the annual fall dinner at Holy Angels Catholic Church. Dinner will be catered by Russ Dahl and there will be entertainment by Jerry Haller.  There will be many interesting items for a silent auction as well door prizes. Please take time to participate in these events.  Your support is needed and very much appreciated.

I want to thank every one who has helped with the Depot Annex project.  Many people have spent many hours of volunteer time to accomplish all of the work.  Special thanks to Corky and June Mackey, Pat Farrell, Marge Renn, Maryls Schmidt, Ross Anderson, Nancy Hanson, Dean Paulson, Henry Gretsfeld and Judy Blomquist.  These people deserve a huge thank you for all of their work.  Also a huge thank you to all of the people who have made donations to the building fund. We have received over $6500.00 which has been a huge help in completing the building. The support from the community has been awesome.
We are hoping to have special events throughout the winter months.  Some ideas are a quilt show, vintage aprons, vintage wedding dresses, high tea and a Christmas show.  We welcome ideas and input from all of you.  If you are in the area, please stop in and see us. It’s well worth your time. 

Natalie Frohrip, President

 

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